Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-02-23

| you, sue cOntluueO, aIIer d pause, dS 81
saw Nellie beginning to revive. "Com
up here, after Mdlle. Westron has bee
through. and will show you trick tina
will astonish you."
The hall-teacher went her rounds ever
night at ten o'clock to see that the light
we're all out, and the girls in order. An,
that night, after she had retired, we noise
Iessly slipped up to the appointed place.
| Vestella had closed all the blinds, anl
dropped the curtains, fastening the tw'
side windows, and leaving the sash of tn,
front window up. She waited for about al
hour, to be sure that all in the house wer,
asleep, then cautiously lighted lamp an(
proposed her plan.
1t was adopted, with many suggestion!
and improvements, and much suppressed
laughter from the rest of u.s. who had now
lost all fear, and we're ripe for fun.
We took the mattress from the bed--ii
was new one, very thick and heavy-and
set it up edgewise, just the distance of its
width from the window. Then having
taken out the bed-rope, we made slip
moose in one end, and spread it open under
the window, raising it a little from the
floor by means of circle of thick books.
1 Vestella took the other end in her hand,
and, having extinguished the light, station
ed herself in the darkest corner, beside the
mattress, ready to push it over at signal
from her.
It was now one O'Clock, and we waited
in breathless suspense. The clock struck
two, and we were ready to drop with fa-
tgue and drowsiness; but soon after, a
| light rustling, away down below, reused us
to high pitch of expectation He was
coming. How could he get along with 81
little noise? He must have been expert
enced in such undertakings.
| In few seconds we heard his hands
creak, as he grasped the balustrade, and
Immediately his head and shoulders wele
thrust through the window. The mattress
seemed to startle him.
| He looked around, listened, then SEEM
ingly impressed with the necessity of great
er caution, he gently set one foot upon the
floor, then the other, then stood erect and
looked and listened again.
| Vestella pulled the cord with all her
strength, and down he went.
! Down went the mattress upon him, smo 9TH
ering his exclamations, if he uttered any.
Each of us flew to corner, and held it
down with all the force we could muster in
our trepidation.
We heard no sound from him, and felt
|
He evidently felt himself in scrape, and
had shrewdness enough to perceive that
the more quietly he took it, the more easi-
ly he would get through.
| What little noise there was, occasiOned
a hustle in the room below; the hail-teacher
raped at the door. ''Now," l thought,
'all is over with u.s."
"Miss Raymond"
"Well, mademoiselle, ",replied Vestella
drowsily, as if just awakened from sound
sleep.
els all quiet in your roomo"
"Perfectly, mademoiselle."
81 heard noise as of some one falling
80 did I, mademoiselle. 1t must have
been in the street. will open the door
directly"
'Oh no; would not disturb you. Good
night
After all had become quiet, Vestella knelt
down beside the mattress, and putting her
lips to the edge, said in voice scarcely
above whisper:
"Young man, you're prisoner"
81 surrender at discretion" he answered
| in snguarly low and quiet tone.
1t was the same voice had heard in the
garden.
"Will you submit to cur terms if let
you out.
81 will''
First. then, you are to move as quietly
as possible. You are to answer all ques-
tions we propose; and when you speak,
speak in a very low voice. Now let him
up, girls"
We all took our seats in a row, Vestella
in the center, and lit the lamp. The young
| man arose, and we had full view of his
face. There were the same laughing blue
eyes I had seen in the garden. They were
not Ian ughingnow, however-they were cast
down, aud the whole expression of his face
was decidedly sheepish.
Upon your knees, young man," said
VestelIa sternly putting on an awful frown.
He knelt at the distance of about three
PAGES from Vestella's feet, with such un-
studied grace, and could think of nothing
but Raleigh receiving knighthocd from
Queen Elizabeth.
tory Tell us for what purpose you came
here. and how you did it, There are four
stories here, you know"
He started as if a bullet had struck him.
He glanced nervously at each of us, turned
red, then pale. then reddered again, then
hung his head; but at length found his
voice, told us his name, his history, his con
nections, and ended by assuring us that his
object was merely frolic; that he meant
no harm to any one.
"You were to take faithful note of every
thing in the room, particularly the features
of the occupant'-he started again-''you
have an opportunity now"
He remained silent.
Can you remember how we all look, or
would you like photographs" He was
still silent, blushing deeper and deeper.
"It is my duty to hand you over to
Madame c. that YOU may be dealt with
according to law. What have you to say
why sentence should not be pronounced up
on you?'
ooh, ladies', do entreat you to spare
me exposure. will submit to any terms
you impose. should be expelled from the
| institute; my mothers heart would be brok-
en- by the disgrace; l should lose all my
| friends"
sLsten. then, to the sentence of the
court" Vestella whispered to us, and
each took her stand in a separate corner of
the room. "In consideration of your ex-
treme youth, and the distress which a
knowledge of your foolish freak would
bring upon friends, this court-the Court
of Independent aud Honorable Misses-has
determined not to make public your mis-
demeanor; but do hereby adiudge you to
kneel before each of these young ladies sep
arately, ask their forgiveness, and give
them your promise that you will never at
tempt anything of the kind during your
whole life. Then return to me and sign a
confession which shall write, and which
shall be left with the court for your future
good behavior After which you must have
cupful of cold water poured over your
head. This you can show to your com
rades as evidence that you won the bet.
Now, sir"
He arose from his knees, and, walkin ing
straight up to Anna Vessey, knelt before
her, and executed that part of his sentence.
Then to Florilla, and so on to all of us,
using different terms to every one, express
ing himself so elegantly, and with such ap-
parent sincerity, that we were secretly en-
raptured with, and forgave him readily,
though none of us spoke.
Then came the water ceremony.
Vestella filled large cut-glass pitcher
with water, and, making him stoop with
his face over the washstand, poured it over
his head